As said in other posts - our 11 week old Yorkie has taken well to his crate after we started letting him sleep in it in our room.

The last few mornings tho he woke up at 6 am whining and whining (did not need toilet) and so we started taking his crate down when he wakes up for him toilet break during the night (4 or 5 am) and leaving him down and he sleeps through til we get up around 6:45.

Yesterday when I got up, I went down put the kettle on then let him out. No problems - this morning as soon as heard us up he started whining to get out - we ignored him - and eventually after half an hour he was quiet so we let him out.

But then when I put him back into his crate at 8 am (usually do this for about 5 or 10 mins whilst getting daughter up) he whined again and had to wait 20 minutes to let him become quiet. And then again at 8:30 when I was getting little on ready for nursery (another normal daily occurrence which he is used to) he was whining for half an hour!!

He is in his crate sleeping now (he's knackered!) - do you think tomorrow I should go straight to him as soon as I wake before he has a chance to whine, so we don't get the big whoo ha we had today - as said normally he's been fine in his crate!

What time does he go to bed? Oscar is ready to get up at 6 a.m. but we soon we got him into a routine where he played quietly in the crate with his nylabone until we came down at 7.

Totally agree

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What time does he get put to bed? If he's been in the crate a while that might be why he is whining, cause he has had enough of being in there and wants out!

I also agree, don't go to him straight away because he is whining, you could end up making the problem worse. You will be teaching him that the whining gets him attention, so when you do it differently one day and don't go straight to him... he's going to play up.

Well this morning - after sleeping all night he woke up at 6:15 for the toilet so I took him out and put him back in his crate - he was quiet for 5-10 minutes, then whined for next 20 mins - then amazingly went quiet - maybe he's learning at last that whining doesn't work - I waited a few mins then went down and let him put.

He probably is ready to get up by 6:30 as he sleeps by 9 pm (his choice we have to shut his crate from about 7 pm onwards or he would be asleep then!) but I want him to learn than he gets up when we want to get him up not the other way round!

I also told my 12 yr old son not to talk to him this morning apart from a quick hello as normally he fusses him until he goes to school - am hoping if we are all quiet and don't intereact with him too much til after breakfast he may get the message, it's not worth whining to get up!

Thanx for all your tips!

If you keep up the ignoring him when he whines, he should get the idea. I know it can be difficult, especially when the kids want to go and fuss them etc.

I can understand why he is whining to come out though. If he is in his crate from 9pm at night til gone 6am in the morning, that's a long while. He must be in his crate for 9 hours till he wakes up then a little longer till you're ready to let him out, so 9+ hours in a crate (if I have read what you said right! sorry if I haven't)... that could be why he is whining... quite a long time to be shut in a crate imo.

It might be worth investing in a pen for the living room.

Kay2008 has pretty much hit the nail on the head.

9 hours in a crate is an awfully long time for him to be left in there. At the most, you are looking at about 6 hours being a sort of prime example of how long to leave a dog in the crate (although, dogs do obviously vary).

The playpen is a very expensive option as they can cost a silly amount of money. Make sure you leave him a toy (rubbing your hands all over it to leave your scent) which may occupy him for a little while longer. If possible though, the best option would be to let him out to run around for a bit (say 30-60 mins, enough time for an early morning walk if you're that type, lol) and then put him back in his crate.

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lol, don't worry, you're right! At 11 weeks old, its not advisable to take him on 30-60 minute walks, lol, I merely meant that it gives you enough time to take him out for a little run about.

5-10 mins should be plenty for him, he'll get most of his exercise done in the day anyhoo.